ValoArena Case Study: Round-the-Twist, the UK

UK’s 1st ValoArena maintains a 70% utilization rate even after 21 months, at this FEC!

Here’s a quick summary that saves your time: 

Round-The-Twist is one of the largest family entertainment centers (FECs) in North East England, attracting families with kids under 12. Their attractions include a 9-hole mini-golf course, go-karts, a multi-level soft play frame, and a role-play village.

Despite their strong offering, they had an underused space that could be doing more. Owners Steven and Kerry White wanted an interactive group game for their family entertainment center that fit their gated admission model. They needed something that:

✔ Would be loved by their core audience of children aged 4-12
✔ Was durable and didn’t involve high maintenance costs or complicated equipment
✔ Helped them attract a wider audience by engaging older siblings, parents, (and even grandparents!), so families spend more time at their venue

In May 2023, they retrofitted ValoArena in this underutilized space, which made it the first in the UK. Now, after 21 months of operation, this high-throughput attraction for FECs delivers measurable success:

"Out of all the products out there, especially for venues like ours (catering to families with children under 12 years old) ValoArena is the easiest attraction to manage!" says Steven White, Owner of Round The Twist.

Finding the right attraction for a gated admission venue

Steven and Kerry White needed something that wouldn’t increase labor costs or require constant upkeep.

Staffing efficiency was a key factor. Some attractions require employees to monitor gameplay or assist guests, which wouldn’t work for their venue.

🗣️ “We needed an attraction that doesn’t require manning it from Monday to Friday.” – Steven White

They also ruled out VR attractions early on. Wearable-based experiences might work in some locations, but for a family-focused venue with younger kids, it created more risks than rewards.

 “If you give a 7-8-year-old a VR headset, there’s a high chance they’ll throw it on the floor! We needed something that didn’t require wearables or constant supervision.” – Steven White

After researching their options, they found ValoArena.

Why ValoArena was the right choice for Round-The-Twist

Finding the right anchor attraction for a FEC is never just about filling space. It has to make financial sense, bring in more visitors, and be easy to manage. For Round The Twist, ValoArena checked every box.

✅ Fit perfectly in their space requirements.

✅ Offered unique games that their target audience would love.

✅ Proved low maintenance and met Steven’s high standards for longevity.

✅ Required no headsets or attendants, making it one of the best attractions for gated admission venues that can be operated unmanned on weekdays

✅ High throughput attraction where up to 6 players can play together,

✅ Perfect for birthday party packages.

Steven White highlights, “Our guests feel like they’re getting extra value for money with ValoArena included in the ticket price.”

How ValoArena transformed the guest experience at Round-The-Twist

For family entertainment centers (FECs), keeping guests engaged for longer means better value for both visitors and operators. Many operators look for how to increase family engagement in FECs, and ValoArena has proven to be a strong solution.

Kerry White noticed a clear change in how families interact at Round The Twist since adding ValoArena.

🗣️“Most of our other attractions cater to kids under 12, so older siblings and parents often have fewer options. ValoArena has been the swaying factor for families who now feel there’s something for everyone.” – Kerry White

Parents aren’t just watching from the sidelines anymore. They’re joining in, playing alongside their kids, and staying longer in the venue. Interactive group games for family entertainment centers like ValoArena encourage multi-generational play, making the visit more memorable for everyone.

🗣️“I’ve seen dads spend 30 minutes playing ValoArena after their kids are done.” says Steven.

Younger kids, the primary audience at Round The Twist, love ValoArena’s immersive atmosphere. The vibrant LEDs, lively music, and extremely funny mixed-reality games create an environment that is both exciting and easy to enjoy. Kids can simply walk in and start playing without any complicated setup, making it an instant favorite.👶

In Kerry’s words, “They often share their excitement after playing and tell us that they love it and didn’t even know something like this (ValoArena) existed!”

A hassle-free attraction for operators

Keeping an attraction running smoothly is just as important as keeping guests happy. Some attractions need daily maintenance, frequent repairs, or constant staff supervision. ValoArena avoids all of that.

🗣️“Even without technical knowledge, it’s pretty simple to maintain.” – Steven White

The hardware is built for high-traffic environments, and minor fixes are rare. When they do come up, Valo Motion’s 24/7 remote support ensures quick solutions. Whether it’s an LED adjustment or a small tweak, problems get resolved without downtime or disruption.

For gated admission venues, reliability means lower operational costs and less stress on staff. ValoArena keeps guests entertained while operators focus on running their business.

Steven and Kerry believe ValoArena is an easy win for any FEC looking for a high-throughput, low-maintenance attraction.

 “The best part as an operator is that ValoArena runs itself.” – Steven White

Beyond just the product, they’ve also been impressed by Valo Motion’s commitment to .

🗣️ “I’ve felt that as customers of Valo Motion, we are in safe hands. They are trustworthy to work with and won’t just sell you something and leave you to figure the rest out.” – Steven White

What you haven’t heard yet…

How did Round The Twist go from nearly retrofitting two ValoClimb units to launching the first ValoArena in the UK? What made Steven White fly to Finland to see Valo Motion’s headquarters firsthand? And how did a two-year delay due to COVID turn into a better-than-expected outcome for their business?

These are the details we didn’t cover here, but you can get them all, straight to your inbox 📩

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